Potato-harvester.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

J. H. PENNICK.

POTATO HARVESTER.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov. 23, 1905.

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J. H. PENNIGK. POTAT() HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1905.

PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906 tu: NoRRls "wins co.. wAsHllamN, n. c,

N0` 830,362. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906. J. H. PENNIOK.

.POTATO HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 23. 1905.

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N0. 830,862. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

. J. H. PENNICK.

POTATO HARVESTER.

APPLIGATION FILED Nov. 2s. 1905.

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POTATO HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1905.

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rrNrrnn sri-iras PATENT oriuonn JOHN. H. PENNICK, OF MEN OKEN, KANSAS.

POTATO-HARVESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application ledNovember 23,1905. Serial No. 288,682.

To all who/1t it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN H. PENNICK, a citizen of the United States,residing atMenoken, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Potato-Harvester, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine complete in itselffor harvesting the crop to and including the steps of weighing andsacking the potatoes. ln other words, objects are to provide mechanismfor the varions steps of digging the potatoes, cleaning, and scouringthem, sorting them, weighing and sacking them.

The invention consists of the parts, improvements, and combinationsherein described and claimed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification andin the description thereof l illustrate the invention in its preferredform and show what I deem to be the best inode of applying theprinciples thereof g butitis to be understood that the invention itselfis not confined to the drawings and the description of the drawings,that it maybe applied to other uses, such as harvesting beets and othercrops, and that parts and combinations thereof as separately claimed maybe used in connection with other devices of similar general nature, andthat I contemplate changes in form, proportions, materials, arrangement,the transposition of parts, and the substitution of equivalent memberswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation view of the lefthand side of the machine. Fig.2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken approximately on a planeextending through the middle. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the running-gearand the lower portions of the machine. Fig. 4 is an elevation view ofthe rear portion of the righthand side of the machine designedespecially to show the sorter apparatus. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectionalview of the elevator and brush, showing the details thereof, and istaken approximately through the line 5/ 5 of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is aside view of the adjustable bearing for the brush-shaft. Fig. 7 is arear elevation intended especially to show the sorter. Figs. S and 9 areenlarged detail views of the right-hand wheel of the forward truck,which is adaptedto be raised or lowered to adapt it to retain thegearing about level,

whether it run in a plowed furrow or on the smoother surface.

Like reference-numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughoutthe several views. f

Preferably the frame is constructed of angle-iron,

1 1 are thestringers, adapted to sustain the main weight of the machine.They are connected by suitable cross-pieces, as by the angle-irons 2 2and by the two-inch timber 3. Another piece 4 connects cross-pieces 2and 2, and underneath the pieces l 1 and 4, in suitable bearings,extends the main shaft 5, on which is loosely mounted the main tractionor bull wheel 6. It 'will be understood that the principal Weight of therear portion of the machine is carried by this wheel and shaft, whichmust be built accordingly, and this wheel and shaft in turn provides themotive power for the elevator, brushes, sorter, &c. Keyed to shaft 5 isthe gear 7, which meshes with a gear 8 on shaft 9. On shafts 5 and 9 arethe sprockets 10 and 1l, respectively, for operating the various parts,as will be presently explained. The grooved collar 12 and the sprocket14 are an integral piece 15, keyed loosely onto shaft 5, so as toconstantly revolve when said shaft revolves and to carry the shaft withit; but said collar and sprocket are movable longitudinally on theshaft. A collar 13 is fitted into the groove of collar 12 and isconnected by rods 16 to a. cross-head 17, which is pivoted at 1S -to alever 19, pivoted to a bracket 2O and adapted to set on either side of alug 22 on a bracket 21. Secured to the main wheel 6 is one member 15 ofan ordinary clutch, while the other member 15 is secured to the collarand sprocket. In Fig. 3 the machinery is out of gear, permitting thebull-wheel to rotate loosely on lthe shaft 5 but upon shifting lever 19to the other side of lug 2'2 the two members of the clutch will engageeach other, thereby turning shaftf, and with it operating the machineryhereinafter described. Sprocket 12 is connected by a sprocket-chain 29with sprocket 23 on shaft 24., whereby is operated an automatic weigherand sacker, which l have graphically described as 25, but which is thesubject-matter of another application now being prepared and about to beexecuted IOO and filed Yby me, to which other application IIO held rigidby a brace-rod 51.

secured to and arranged along theV side of the machine for supporting.the weighing and sacking machinery and on which an attendant may stand,and the outer side of the platform may be provided with a traction-wheel27, which may be mounted adjustably, 28, to maintain the platform at aproper level whether the wheel run in a furrow or on the unplowedground.

At the forward end of the frame between the stringers 1 1 is mounted aroller 30, around which the elevating chains and slats pass. On an axle31 are set the two wheels 32 and 33, the latter being adjustablymounted, as will be detailed hereinafter. The beam 34 is pivoted to theaxle 31 by a kingbolt 34 Figs. 1 and 2, and is divided and extended inthe form of two goosenecks 35 35, which are pivoted to the `oppositesides of the elevator-frame at 36. Secured to and extended forwardlyfrom the said frame are the rods 37 37, which come together at 38 and toi each of which is secured a disk 39. A rod 40 connects these rods withthe crank-arml 41 of shaft 42, which is operated by ratchet-lever 43,which engages 4with the rack 44 to lower or elevate the forward end,especially the disks. Another pair of rods 45, similarly secured andextended, support the shovel 48, auxiliary braces 45 45 being alsoprovided to hold the shovel rigid. Shovel and rods are supported by rods46 46, connected to crank-arm on a shaft controlled by ratchetlever 47in a manner similar to the device used for the rod 40,for raising andlowering the disks.

A beam 49 is pivoted by king-bolt 50 to the cross-piece 3, and the lowerend of the bolt is The outer ends of the beam 49 are connected by rods52 52 with brackets 53 53 on the two legs, respectively, of the axle,which are connected in turn with the rods 54 54, to which the motivepower of the machine as a whole is secured. rlhe machine as hereindesigned may be drawn by four horses.

Special attention is called to the function and arrangement of the disksand shovel. It will be noted that the disks are located just in front ofthe shovel and that they are mounted so that they slant inwardly fromthe bottom up and outwardly from' the front back. The purpose of thisrelative arrangement is that the disks will throw the soil away fromeach side of the row of potatoes, and thus leave the smallest possibleamount of soil to be dug up by the shovel with the potatoes. Thisgreatly aids in the subsequent cleaning and scouring. The ridge which ispassed between the two disks contains the potatoes and is dug up by thepointed shovel and passed onto the lower and forward end of the elevatornow to be described.

To a number of suitable uprights, as 55 55 55 are secured the pieces 5656, which sup- 58, terminating at their upper ends in round- A ing rods59, connecting to the sprockets 61, whereby the elevator chains aredriven. These rods are arranged close enough together to prevent thepotatoes from falling through, but permit the dirt'to pass through andonto the ground again. Fastened to each piece 56 is a board 62, whilethe guards or sides of the runway 63 63 may be held in place by thebrackets or braces 64 64. The sprocket-chains 65 65 pass along thesurface of the boards 62 and under the guards 63 63, and secured to thechains are the slats 66 66, arranged at intervals of about four inchesapart around the endless chains 65 65 and which of course serve to carrythe soil and potatoes, the product of the shovel, up through theelevator-chute in the usual manner of such devices. This arrangementpermits of no loss, except through the rods which form the bottom of thechute. The two chains are driven by the two sprockets 61 61, mounted onthe shaft 60, on which is sprocket 67, which is driven by a chain 68from sprocket 11. Shaft 60 may be mounted in any suitable manner, as inblocks 69. A pair of rollers 7() 70 serve to guide the carrier over thebeams 3 49.

Arranged at intervals along the elevator` are a number of rotarybrushes, here represented as three in number, 71, 71, and 71. Thesebrushes and the manner of mounting them are alike, except that thebrushes are of different sizes preferably, each being made up about asfollows: In a core or any suitable stock are inserted the bristleportion 72, (made of split cane,) and the core is secured to the shaft 74. At each end of the core is ari end piece or shield 75. To a bracket76 on the side strip 56 is pivoted the bracket 77, provided with the twostandards 78 78, which support between them the journal-bearings 79 forthe brush-shaft 74. Each boxing may preferably be supported on theset-screws 8O 80, which permit the boxing to accommodate itself to theangle of the shaft, thus preventing breakage because of unevendisposition of the shaft which will result from unequal pressure on theproduct in the elevatorchute. A rod 81 is fastened to the side piece 56and extends up through the bracket 77 and is provided with a tap or nut81. A compression-spring 82 normally holds the bracket 77 against nut81. From the brackets 77 for lthe brushes 71 and 71 are suspended therods 83 83, provided with rollers 84 84, respectively.' Extendingthrough suitable boxing 85 is a shaft 86, to oneend of IIO 'which issecured a suitable ratchet-lever 8S forits control and to the other endof which is secured the reversible brake-shoe 87. A suitable connectingmedium, such as a sprocket-chain, is secured at one end to the bracket77 of the brush 71, thence passes under roller 00, thence around roller91, thence through the brake-shoe 87, thence under roller 92, thenceover roller 84', thence under roller 93, thence over roller 84, thenceto the hook 94 on upright 55.

An angle-iron 95 is secured to the side of the frame and extendedoutwardly therefrom to form a bracket to sustain some of the parts to bedescribed. A boxing 96 is secured thereto, in which is mounted one endof a short shaft 97, on which are keyed the sprockets 9S 99, the formerbeing connected by a sprocket-chain 100 with the sprocket 10 on the mainshaft 5 and the latter being connected by a sprocket 101 with thesprocket 102 on the brush-shaft 74 of the middle brush 71, on whichshaft are also secured the sprockets 103 and 105, the former beingconnected by chain 103 with sprocket 104 of brush '71 and the latterbeing connected by sprocket-chain 105 with sprocket 106 of the uppermostbrush 71.

It will be noted that the brushes are graduated in size, the first onebeing the smaller in diameter and the last one, 71, being the largest indiameter, and it will also be noted that they are graduated .in theircloseness to the slats and bottom of the elevator, the first or smallerone being farthest away and the last and largest one being closest. Thepurpose and operation of this arrangement of elevator and brushes are asfollows: rThe soil, udth the potatoes, is passed from the shovel 4S ontothe bottom of the elevator-chute, and from there it is carried to theother end by the slats in the carrier. As the soil is rst passed underthe brush 71 it is disintegrated thereby and considerably broken up, andthis process is repeated to a greater extent in passing under the secondbrush and `still further in passing under the third brush. All along thechute, too, the finer particles of earth are permitted to pass throughthe openings in the bottom of the chute, and the potatoes themselvessettle to the bottom and are carried along by the slats, being cleanedand scoured by the operation. Usually quite a lot of brush will be dugup with the soil and passed along up the elevator, and to get this out,as well as to further take out the dirt, I find good results in the useof a tail-board 126, which may be pivoted to brackets 127, the forwardend of the tail-board being brought close to the slats and under theupper brush 71. and most of the dirt over the tail-board, while thepotatoes, which are now quite well cleaned and smooth, will pass overthe rounding ends 59 of the rods and between the slats The brush, lfind, will throw the brush of the carrier. The forward end of thetailboard may be adjusted so as to barely allow of the passage of thepotatoes under it, the adjustment depending on the size of the potatoesquite largely, also upon the throw of the large brush.

By a pair of bevel-gears 107 motion is transmitted from the elevatordrive-shaft 60 to the shaft 10S, and by another pair of bevelgears 109motion is transmitted from shaft 10S to the screw conveyer-shaft 110, onwhich is mounted the screw 111, which rotates in a trough made up of theslats 112 112, which are spaced apart, so as to permit the dirt, but notthe potatoes, to sift therethrough onto the apron 113, whence it may bedischarged out onto the ground. This trough and conveyer are locatedimmediately alongside of the upper end of the elevator-chute, so thatthe product therefrom passing under the tailboard is dischargedthereinto. The operation of the screw conveys the potatoes along thetrough toward the right and further disintegrates whatever dirt mayaccompany them and forcing it through the slats. On the right-hand sideof the machine is another angle-iron 114, which 'forms asupportingbracket in connection with braces 115 115 for a shaft 117,journaled in boXings 116 116 and provided at its rear end with a largesprocket 11S, which is operated by a sprocketchain 11S from. thesprocket 113 on shaft 10S. On the shaft 117 is the cylindrical sorter119, made up in simple form of the slats suitably spaced apart, so as topermit the smaller potatoes and the dirt to fall therebetween andcarrying the larger potatoes along to the lower end, whencethey aredischarged through the chute 125 into the sacks in the automatic weigherand saeker hertofore referred to. Preferably I space these slats aboutan inch and a half apart, although here, as well as elsewhere, thespaces may be varied to suit ICO any circumstance. rlhe product whichpasses through the slats passes down the chute 120, the bottom of whichis narrowly slatted, as at 121, so as to permit the dirt to sifttherethrough, and the lower end of which is provided with a lip 122,over which the small potatoes are discharged into a box 123 at the rearof the machine. These various means of disintegrating and agitating theearth and scouring the potatoes and providing for the escape of the dirtand refuse without at the same time injuring the potatoes from the timethe soil is delivered into the elevator to the time the potatoes aredelivered into the sacks have the result of thoroughly cleaning thepotatoes and producing in the sacks a thoroughly-cleaned and marketable(as to size) product. A shield 113 protects the clutch and gearingassociated with the` bull-wheel from the dirt falling through the upperportion of the elevator-shaft.

Referring now to the adjustable mounting for the right-hand wheel 33 ofthe forward truck, the spindle 128 of the aXle carries a block 129,which has a spindle 130, on which the wheel 33 is mounted. A ratchet orrack 132 is secured to the upright portion of the axle, and aratchet-lever 131, fastened to or integral with the block 129, engagesthe rack, whereby the wheel may be raised or lowered relatively to theaXle 3l by the manipulation of the ratchet-lever- In going to the ieldand in digging the iirst turrows this wheel will have the position shownin Fig. 2; but after this wheel passes into the plowed furrow it wouldbe set deeper accordingly, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. Thecombination in a machine of the kind described, of a digging-tool, aframe and running-gears, an elevator-chute, a carrier therein, .a seriesof brushes arranged along the chute for .disintegrating the earth andscouring the potatoes, said brushes being graduated in size as to diameter.y

2. The combination of a trame, runninggear, a digging-tool, anelevator-chute, a lcarrier therein, and a series of rotary brushesarranged along the chute for disintegrating the earth and scouring thepotatoes, said brushes being graduated in closeness to the chutebottom.

8. The combination of a frame, runninggear, a digging-tool, anelevator-chute, a carrier therein, anda series of graduated' brushesarranged `along the chute 'for disintegrating the earth .-and scouringthe potatoes.

4. The combination in. a machine of the kind described of a trame andrunning-gear, a vdigging-tool, a series of rotary brushes arranged.along an elevator-chute, an elevatorchute anda carrier therein, and atail-board 126 behind the last brush and above the carrier to eliminatethe lighter products from the heavier, as set for-th.

5. The combination in a machine of the kind described, v.of a trame andrunning-gear, a .digging-tool, an lelevator-chute and a carrier therein,rotary brushes arranged along the chute :and coperating with thelcarrier as described, bearings for the brush-shafts, and means forraising and lowering said brushes with relation to the carrier.

6. The combination of an `elevator-chute and a .carrier therein, aseries of rotary brushes arranged along the chute, adjustablysupportedybearings for the brush-shafts, :and means for raising yand lowering allrsaid brushes simultaneously.

7. The combination i-n a machine of the kind described, Vof an,elevator-chute yand a carrier therein, rotary brushes arranged alongthe chute, spring-supported bearings for the brush-shafts, and meanscommon to all such bearings for raising and lowering same with relationto the bottomot the chut-e.

8. The combination in a machine of the kind described, of anelevator-chute and a carrier therein, rotary brushes arranged along thechute, pivoted spring-supported bearings for the brush-shafts, meanscommon to all the bearings for raising and lowering same, and abrake-shoe and ratchet-lever for controlling and operating said means.

9. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a frame, aforward truck, a main traction or bull wheel disposed approximatelycentrally of the elevator and at the rear, an elevator-chute and a`carrier therein, a series of brushes cooperating with the carrier, asorter, power-transmission apparatus between the bullwheel and thecarrier, brushes, and sorter, and a platform arranged at one side of themain Jframe with a running-gear.

10. In a machine of the kin d described, the combination of a frame, aforward truck, a digging-tool, an elevator-chute and a carrier therein,a series ot rotary brushes arranged along the chute and cooperating withthe `carrier upon the product passing along the chute, a maintraction-wheel at the rear and ad apted to trail in the path of thedigging-tool, a platform and traction-wheel at one side of the mainframe, and power-transmission appar-atus between the main traction-wheeland the carrier and brushes.

11. The combination in a machine of the kind described with a frame andrunninggear, of a digging-tool, ,a chute having openings in the bottomto permit the smaller particles of dirt to sift therethrough, a slattedendless conveyer adapted to rest on the chutebottom and to convey theproduct over the surface ot the chute-bottom, a series of graduatedrotary brushes `arranged .along the chute and cooperating with theconveyor to disintegrate the earth and scour the potatoes.

12. The combination in .a machine of the kind described with a frame andrunninggear, of a digging-tool, an elevator-chute having openings in thebottom to permit `the smaller particles of ear-th to sift therethrough,a sla-tted endless conveyer `adapted. to rest upon the chute-bottom andto convey the product over the surface thereof, a series of graduatedbrushes arranged along the chute, and means for raising and lowering thebrushes with relation to the conveyor.

In testimony 'whereoi1 l have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of witnesses.

JOHN PENNICK.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. HULIT, Z. T. FISHER.

IIO

